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Hierarchical Liturgy 100

The Hierarchical Liturgy Made Easy
- a remedial course for the Liturgically challenged (like me)

Preliminary Notes:

First of all: Relax.... Take a deep breath. Say to yourself: "The Hierarchical Liturgy is my friend. I shall not fear." Repeat to yourself, "It's easy. Kids can do this. I CAN do this....by God's mercy." (...as with all things.)

And it IS easy. Seriously.

So easy in fact that some of the kids at St. Elias play hierarchical Liturgy! If you don't believe me, just have a look at the kids' Lego version of the Hierarchical Liturgy!

This Basic Rubrics page presumes that you have a few Servers who've never done this before, the Parish Priest and concelebrants who may not be too familiar with this Service - and if you are truly blessed - a deacon (who himself even may not be familiar with this Service).

With this in mind, it is still easy enough and very edifying for the Faithful to serve a basic, simple, bare bones, but still respectable and licit Hierarchical Liturgy.

These instructions, for a very basic Hierarchical Liturgy, specifies only "the special stuff" which is done in addition to what is regularly done at Sunday Divine Liturgy. So, e.g. I have not included what is usually sung, just the extra hymns sung during the Hierarchical Liturgies.

By "clergy" unless specified, refers to both major & minor clergy, i.e.: priests, deacons, subdeacons, and servers (anyone wearing a stikhar).

When the Rubrics refer to directions (like south, east, etc.), the presumption is that the Church is built within the Orthodox traditional orientation, i.e. Altar & High Place at the east end, so that prayer is directed toward the east (the Direction symbolic of Christ, who is "the Dawning of Justice"). If your Temple, due to geograhic exigencies is not eastward oriented, make the appropriate adjustments - mutatis mutandis.

Liturgical Tip:

Whenever anyone gives anything to or takes anything from the Bishop, it is customary to kiss the hand of the Bishop. (The best way to co-ordinate this is to offer the object to the Bishop but when the Bishop grabs it, don't let it go until one has kissed the Bishop's hand, then let go.)

Liturgical Tip:

When Bishop blesses with Trikeri (3 branched candlestick) & Dikeri (2 branched candlestick), give his right hand the Trikeri and his left the Dikeri. This means the Server with the Trikeri stands generally on the south side of the Church and the Dikeri guy is on the north.
Liturgical Tip:

–after every Trikeri/Dikeri blessing, Singers always sing: Many Years (Eis Polla...) (This happens about 4x: after Vesting, at the Little Entrance, after the Gospel, after the Great Entrance)

Liturgical Tip:

- if you have "orletsi" (the Eagle Rugs of the Bishop) and not enough Servers to make them appear & disappear at the proper time, Don't Panic! Just put them down ahead of time & leave them there. Place one at the Kathedra, one at the Holy Table, one at the High Place. When you're feeling adventurous, go to the "Standard" page for Serving Hierarchical Liturgy for the rubrics on Eagle Rugs.

Liturgical Tip:

- concelebrants should be line up in order of rank. The most senior (by ordination) closest to the Bishop. The Parish Priest is generally always the Protos (liturgically senior in his own parish).

Before Liturgy

Greeting the Bishop at the back of the Church

Clergy process to the back to welcome the Bishop: if there are no deacons and only the parish priest, who must manage the Greeting and Vesting and everything, he could be already vested when he comes to meet the Bishop. (He should already have done the Proskomidia up to the point of the Commemorations too.)

To Greet the Bishop, the deacons come already vested, but the priests should Not be vested yet (they will vest later in the Altar at the same time the Bishop is vested in the Sanctuary).}

Bishop is greeted with Bread & Salt by designated representatives of the Community.

If you have concelebrating priests, have them line up in 2 rows, facing inward towards each other, and in order of rank (most senior closest to the Bishop {i.e. same order as at the Holy Table in the Altar [i.e. senior most to the Bishop's right, 2d to the Bishop's left, 3d on the Bishop's right and behind the senior most, 4th behind the 2d, etc.]}).

The junior most presbyter presents the Bishop with the Church Handcross on a cloth covered tray. If you don't have concelebrants, the Parish Priest should do this.

The Presbyters come up individually, in order of rank, and received the Bishop's blessing. They kiss the Hand Cross & Bishop's hand, Then they return to their places in line.

When the junior most presbyter receives his blessing and venerates the Hand Cross, the Bishop returns the Hand Cross to the tray and it can be returned to the Holy Table when convenient.

Deacon or else Parish Priest proclaims: "May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the good of Jerusalem in your day!"

The Bishop leads the clergy to the Iconostas for the Prayers before the Iconostas.

As clergy "fish tail" following the bishop up to the front in order of rank (i.e. senior most first), Singers: "From the rising to the setting of the sun, is the name of the Lord to be praised. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth and forevermore." and then "It is truly right to bless you O Theotokos...”

Prayers before the Iconostas: Concelebrants line up below the solea in 2 rows in front of either the Pantokrator or Theotokos icons. The should be facing east and in order of rank (senior-most closest to the Bishop).

The Deacon or else Parish Priest should say the prayers aloud for the Bishop, reserving for the Bishop the last Prayer, "Stretch forth Your Hands..."

After the Prayers, the Server gives the Bishop his Staff, who blesses the Faithful

Singers: “Ton dhespotin”

Bishop leads clergy back to the Kathedra

If concelebrants, Bishop blesses the clergy to go into the Altar to vest.

Vesting the Bishop

Preliminary Note: This "Vesting" stuff may seems like a waste of time and a lot of trouble. Some might say, "Heck, why can't he dress himself before hand?"

At first glance, it may not seem like much, but it's theological import, catechetical value, and spiritual impact is actually incredibly powerful. It's well worth the little extra effort and time involved! (I'm not even going to mention the "Argument from Authority", i.e. this is what the Church says we are supposed to do...)

The Bishop 's vestments symbolise his ministry and authority in the Church. It is a very powerful and effective sign, when we see that he is vested by members of the Congregation. It's shows that his ministry and authority arise from the Body of Christ, which is the Church. And thus it is the Body of Christ, the Church, that invests him in his power as Shepherd and Servant of God's Holy Church.

When we vest him, we sacramentally symbolise the action of the Holy Spirit in the Body of Christ, raising up from Among Us those appointed and graced for the service of the Gospel and the ministry of the Priesthood of the Christ.

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles..." (I Cor. 12:27-28a)

When WE vest our Bishop, it not only helps us to appreciate his role and dignity in our lives, but at the same time, it is a strong reminder of our own role as the Body of Christ, from whence the Spirit raising up all those called to God's service, the Body of Christ, wherein each of us shares in the Divine Priesthood by virtue of the grace of our Baptism and Chrismation...the priesthood of all believers.

"Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ...You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:10, 9, 5)

Before the Liturgy, Bishop's vestments should be laid out on a big tray or small table.

The Parish Priest should appoint members of the Faithful to bring the vestments to Bishop. The various vestments can be distributed amongst various members to the parish to get maximum Congregational participation!

The parish priest could also appoint a Couple of people to help the Bishop put on the vestments (button up the Sakkos, the Omophor, etc.).

The deacon or else Parish priest chants the vesting prayers slowly, while the Faithful bring up the various vestments for the Bishop. Servers or designated Parishioners help the Bishop to vest.
- if there is a deacon, the Deacon, stands on the Ambo, incensing toward the Bishop and slowly chants the Vesting Prayers.

After vesting, Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.

Bishop blesses with the Trikeri/Dikeri in the 4 Directions.

Singers: Many Years (Mnohaya Lita)

Servers come with basin, ewer, and towel: to wash Bishop's hands.
(If concelebrants, once they have vested, they process together back to the Kathedra.)

During Liturgy

Enarxis

- Bishop blesses the Parish Priest to begin Liturgy

- Priest goes into Altar via the north Deacon Door, opens Holy Doors, and Begins Liturgy

- if no concelebrants, the Parish Priest does all the Vos-hlasy of all the Litanies of the Enarxis

- if no deacon, the Parish Priest does all the Litanies of the Enarxis.

- if concelebrants, Bishops sends the Priests (individually, in order of rank) into the Altar to take the Vos-hlas.

- (E.g.: Senior does “Blessed be the Kingdom”,

- 2d Priest, “Vos-hlas of Great Litany,

- 3d Priest, “Vos-hlas of 1st Little Litany,

- 4th Priest, “Vos-hlas of 2d Little Litany “For You are a good and loving God”).

At the “Only Begotten Son”, Bishop collectively blesses all concelebrants to enter the Altar.

- Servers line up below the Ambo, facing west, and at the 3d Vos-hlas, bow to the Bishop (for his blessing) and enter the Altar and line up for the Little Entrance.

Little Entrance:

Clergy process out to the Kathedra (in reverse order, i.e. Senior Priest 1st), Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.

Deacon/Priest: “Wisdom” & turns toward Bishop

Clergy (if no concelebrants, then just the Parish Priest) sing: "Come Let us Worship & fall down before Christ." (full stop, no further)

Then Bishop blesses with Trikeri/Dikeri

Clergy continue: “O Son of God...”

Deacon/Parish Priest leads procession with Gospel book into the Altar with Bishop following & concelebrants after him.

Singers: “O Son of God...” 2x

Bishop does incensation (if there is a deacon, he leads the incensation with the Trikeri)

Singers: “Eis Polla Eti Dhespota” (There is a special melody you can use, Click here for Sample )

Liturgy of the Word:

At the Trisagion, Singers stop at the 2d Holy God (Svyatyj Bozhe).

The 3d Holy God, is sung by in Greek by the Bishop & Clergy alone

During Apostle Reading, priests greet the Bishop: kissing his hand, shoulder, & shield Gospel Procession:

--after the Gospel, Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.

Bishop blesses with Trikeri/Dikeri

Singers: Many Years (Eis Polla...)

Great Entrance:

– before the Great Entrance the Bishop washes his hands at the Holy Doors

- Bishop completes Proskomidia

- clergy (major and minor) kiss Bishop shoulder & give him their names to be commemorated

- Procession Order: carry out in this order: (if you have enough servers)

- 1. Bishop's Mitra placed on the Arkhieratikon

- 2. Bishop’s Staff

- 3. Trikeri

- 4. Dikeri,

- 5. Ripidia

- etc.

- then 1st deacon with Diskos, (if no deacon, the Parish Priest takes it, as well as the Potir)

- deacon gives Diskos to Bishop & enters Altar via Holy Doors

- then priests (in reverse order, i.e. Senior first with the Potir (concelebrants line up in order, in 2 rows below solea, lined up with Christ or Theotokos icons respectively, facing east) (at Hierarchical Services, priests face either east or west {in the direction of the bishop} - not inward toward each other as at other times)

- Senior Priest gives Potir to the Bishop, commemorating him, and stepping back to stand below solea facing east

- Bishop incensing while Gifts brought and then make the Commemorations

- Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.

- then Bishop bless with Trikeri/Dikeri,

- Singers: Many Years (Eis Polla)

Creed:

- during the Creed, 2 priests wave the Aer over the Bishop’s head at the Holy Table

- the Servers carrying Trikeri & Dikeri exit & stand on solea (if you have enough Servers)

Anaphora

- at “Mercy of peace”, Servers give Bishop the Trikeri/Dikeri.

- instead of “Among the first...”, The Parish Priest commemorates the Bishop (who will commemorate the other hierarchs with whom he is in Communion), then the deacon will commemorate the Bishop with “and for our Godloving Bishop (Name) who offers these Holy gifts to the Lord our God” going from the Holy Table to the High Place making a Reverence and returning to the Bishop for a blessing. (Historical note: This is the remnant of the Deacon’s commemoration of the living)

- at “One is Holy”, Close Holy Doors & Curtain,

- the Ambo Prayer is made by the most junior Priest

- Bishop does: “Save Your People...” then Priest continues with rest of Ambo Prayer

Dismissal

- the deacon or parish priest proclaims the Polychronion

- then the clergy exit altar & together with the Faithful venerate the Festal icon & receive Antidoron and/or Myrovannya.

Easy as Pie.

(& much, much easier than "Pi").

and Glory to God!

Very Special Thanks to Ilya Romanovitch Galadza, Chief Cantor at St. Elias Church, for his liturgical expertise which made these pages possible.

Did you seriously think I knew anything?

signed Der Webmeister

Ukrainian version
Українська версія

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